Ono

Ono is a term used in Japan to refer to both a surname and various place names, and it appears in other contexts as a romanization of Japanese words. In Japanese, Ono is most commonly written with the kanji combinations 小野 or 大野, both read as Ono. The first means “small field,” and the second means “large field.” The name is used as a surname and as part of toponyms across the country.

As a surname, Ono is relatively common in Japan and among people of Japanese descent. The best known bearer in international culture is Yoko Ono (小野 洋子), a Japanese multimedia artist, musician, and peace activist who gained prominence in the 1960s as part of the Fluxus movement and as the widow of John Lennon.

Geographically, the reading Ono appears in multiple Japanese place names. One example is Ōno-shi (大野市), a city in Fukui Prefecture. Throughout Japan, various towns, villages, and districts incorporate the reading Ono, reflecting the different kanji spellings and historical land names.

In other contexts, Ono may be used as a romanized form of Japanese names or terms and can appear in literature and media related to Japan. The meaning and origin of the name depend on the kanji used, leading to overlapping uses across people and places.